Creel for a direct warping machine



K. KOHL April 28, 1970 CREEL FOR A DIRECT WARPING MACHINE Filed Nov. IV, 196'? Fig.2.

INVENTOR: KARL KOHL United States Patent US. Cl. 242131.1 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Cylindrical yarn packages for warping sectional warps for warp knitting machines are mounted in an upright frame in approximately coaxial groups, a driven friction roller rotating about an upright axis being associated with each group of packages from which threads are withdrawn tangentially and about the circumference of the roller to the reed of the warping machine. Rubber threads may be warped at high speed from this creel.

Background of the invention The invention relates to a creel for the direct warping of sectional warps for warp knitting machines, and particularly to the warping of rubber threads.

While it is known to withdraw the threads over-end from conically wound yarn packages for making warps, the method is not applicable to rubber threads which are wound exclusively in cylindrical packages. It has, therefore, been common practice to place the cylindrical yarn packages in a coaxial row on a pair of horizontally arranged driven rollers, and to urge the packages against the circumference of the rollers by means of weights or springs. The packages are thus caused to rotate by contact with the rollers, and the threads are withdrawn tangentially from the circumference of each package. Before they pass the reed of the warping machine, they must be led together to form groups. Because of the creel arrangement described, it is necessary to change the direction of movement of the threads for this purpose by means of guides.

The apparatus thereby becomes somewhat complex but, even more important, each change of direction of the sensitive rubber threads, which is caused by contact with guides, is harmful. It is well established that contact of the threads with a solid object between the creel and the reed of the warping machine is to be avoided, particularly to reduce electrostatic charges.

It is, therefore, an important object of the invention to minimize contact of the threads with solid objects while traveling from the creel to the reed of the warping machine, and more specifically, to avoid guides for changing the direction of travel of the threads.

Summary of the invention It has now been found that this object is readily achieved when a driven roller is supported vertically together with a group of yarn packages held parallel to the roller axis, the individual packages being approximately coaxially superposed in the group. This seemingly simple expedient makes it possible to draw the threads from the creel directly to the reed of the warping machine without any change in direction and without contact with a solid object, such as a guide. The creels of the invention, moreover, require less floor space than conventional creels.

Other features, additional objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will readily be appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description of a preferred ice embodiment when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing.

Brief description of the drawing In the drawing:

FIG. is a view which shows a creel of the invention in perspective;

FIG. 2 shows the creel of FIG. 1 in fragmentary elevation;

FIG. 3 shows the device of FIG. 2 in plan section on the line IIIIII;

FIG. 4 shows a detail of the apparatus of FIG. 1 on a somewhat larger scale; and

FIG. 5 shows the apparatus of FIG. 1 in diagrammatic section on the line VV.

Description of the preferred embodiment Referring now to the drawing in detail, the creel is seen to have a rectangular upright frame of which only the upper horizontal member 1, the vertical front member 2, and the bottom member 3, which are fixedly connected, are visible in FIG. 1. The fourth member, a vertical element connecting the members 1 and 3, is not shown.

Cylindrical rollers 4 having vertical axes in a common plane are spacedly juxtaposed in the frame and have respective supporting shafts, not visible in the drawing, which are journaled in the frame members 1, 3 and pass through a flange 5 of the bottom member 3.

The bottom ends of the shafts carry bevel gears 6 which mesh with corresponding bevel gears 7 keyed to a common horizontal drive shaft 8. The shaft 8 is journaled in bearings 9 on the bottom member 3, only the front bearing being visible in FIG. 1. The front end 10 of the shaft 8 carries a belt pulley 11 coupled by a belt 12 with the drive pulley 13 of an electric motor 14.

Brackets 15, 15a on the frame members 1, 3 hold a vertical rod 16 on which several arms 17 are mounted for pivotal movement in respective horizontal planes, and are biased toward the associated roller 4 by springs 18. Short upright shafts 19 on the free ends of the arms 17 rotatably support cylindrical packages 20 of rubber threads, the arms 17, packages 20, and associated structure having been omitted from all but the foremost rod 16 in FIG. 1 for the sake of clarity.

The packages 20 are urged into circumferential engagement with the associated rollers 4 and are, therefore, driven at uniform circumferential speeds when the motor 14 is energized. A thread 21 is led from each package 20 over the cylindrical surface of the associated roller 4 by the warping machine, not otherwise shown in the drawing. The threads of packages 20 associated with the same roller 4 are wound on the same beam section in the warping machine.

As is best seen in FIG. 5, the threads 21 are drawn from the packages 20 and over the associated roller 4, and are directed from there obliquely relative to 2. reference plane 22, in which the creel frame 1, 2, 3 and the axes of all rollers 4 are located, the direction being determined by the non-illustrated reed.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing disclosure relates only to a preferred embodiment of the invention, and that it is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention chosen herein for the purpose of the disclosure which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a creel of a direct warping machine for making warp knitting warps from a plurality of cylindrical yarn packages holding rubber threads, the creel having a driven roller and means for urging yarn packages into circumferential driving contact with the roller, the improvement which comprises:

(a) supporting means supporting a driven roller in an upright position;

(b) holding means holding a group of said yarn packages in substantially coaxial, vertically superposed relationship while being urged into said contact with said roller; and

(c) means for directing a yarn from each package circumferentially over the surface of said roller and tangentially away from said roller.

2. In a creel as set forth in claim 1, said supporting means including a frame, a plurality of additional rollers being supported on said frame for rotation about respec- References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,797,391 3/1931 Abbott 28--35 LEONARD D. CHRISTIAN, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

tive upright axes parallel to the axis of said first-mentioned 15 2835 

